Linear Positioning Stage from PI miCos Unites Force, Compactness and Positioning Accuracy

Physik Instrumente (PI): PI miCos has extended its LPS series of linear positioning stages. The drive arrangement of the new, compact LPS-45 stage series is based on a piezoelectric inertia drive.

Using only minimal space, these linear positioning stages provide a combination of high force and high positioning accuracy that cannot be achieved with conventional drive arrangements, such as DC and stepper motors. LPS-45 stages provide a holding force or maximum driving force of 10 N and have a maximum velocity of 10 mm/s.

With a width of 45 mm and a length ranging from 48 mm (at a travel range of 13 mm) to 63 mm (at a travel range of 25 mm), the LPS-45 series has smaller dimensions than other systems with similar force.

Precision in small spaces

The LPS-45 features a compact design and precision components such as crossed roller guides with a cage assistant system, providing for ultra-straight motion with less than 100 µrad. The length measuring system, an optical linear encoder, has a resolu-tion of 1 nm. Just like the motor, it is positioned centrally between the guides. Due to the high resolution and positioning stability of the piezo motor, minimum incremental motion can be achieved in the range of the encoder resolution. Thanks to the piezomotor's high degree of self-locking, the position control of the stage only requires little current so that the motor does not heat up. The pie-zoelectric inertia drive is operated at 45 V and a frequency of 23 kHz and runs almost noiselessly.

Control Mode

The position control has been designed for fast point-to-point motions, using the E-871 motion controller. The control is digitally addressed over a USB or RS-232 interface and features numerous parameters for optional optimization of the settling behavior. As a result of its networking capability, up to 16 axes can be controlled simultaneously via one computer interface. For laboratory applications, the E-871 controller supports LabView. Additional libraries for Windows and Linux enable an implementation in existing environments.

Areas of application for the LPS-45 series

The drives of the LPS-45 series are suitable for applications with small operating cycles and limited installation space. Piezomotors are generally vacuum-compatible; also the LPS positioning stages are designed for operation in ultrahigh vacuum environments with up to 10-9 hPa. PI miCos is expanding its range of positioning systems with piezomotors, especially for use in laboratories and for beamline instrumentation. The LPS-45 is currently integrated a parallel-kinematic SpaceFAB design.

About PI miCos
miCos GmbH was founded in Eschbach near Freiburg, Germany, in 1990. As PI miCos, it belongs to the PI (Physik Instrumente) group of companies, located in Karlsruhe, Germany. With current-ly more than 50 employees, the company develops, produces and markets innovative systems and components for high-precision positioning applications throughout the world. A main focus is optical measurement technology in research and industry. For this purpose, PI miCos offers customized system solutions with multiple axes in addition to its comprehensive standard program. Wide-ranging application know-how guarantees the implementation of technically sophisticated solutions. Flexible positioning systems for ultra-high vacuum applications are an example of this, as are parallel-kinematic Hexapods with six degrees of freedom and linear motor-driven air bearing axes.